Sheep and Goat Pregnancy
Managing sheep and goat pregnancies effectively requires a thorough understanding of various diagnostic techniques and potential complications. The average gestation period for both sheep and goats is approximately 150 days (5 months).
For goats, pregnancy can be detected as early as 30 days post-breeding using real-time ultrasonography, with transrectal ultrasound offering early diagnosis at around 20 days. Ultrasonography is also useful for embryo or fetus counting and sex determination. Radiography becomes a reliable diagnostic tool after 70 days of gestation. Hormonal assays, including progesterone levels in milk or serum and estrone sulfate tests in plasma or urine, are utilized for pregnancy confirmation. However, progesterone cannot differentiate between true pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. Pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) is detectable via ELISA from 25-30 days post-breeding. Hydrometra, or pseudopregnancy, is a condition in goats diagnosed by excluding pregnancy and is treatable with prostaglandin.
Abortions in goats can result from infections like Chlamydia psittaci, Toxoplasma gondii, and Coxiella burnetii. Diagnostic evaluations are essential for managing abnormal abortion rates, with prevention strategies including stress reduction, biosecurity, and vaccinations.
In sheep, pregnancy determination methods include observing ewes not returning to estrus, transabdominal real-time ultrasonography, rectoabdominal palpation, and plasma progesterone concentration measurements. Ultrasonography, especially transrectal in the early stages (20-40 days), is highly sensitive and enables efficient examination of a large number of ewes. This precise diagnosis aids in the differential management of pregnant ewes, enhancing nutritional supplementation strategies and lambing supervision.
References:
Veterinary Merck Manual. Management of Reproduction Sheep.
Veterinary Merck Manual. Management of Reproduction Goat.
